Tuesday, September 15, 2009

MSC: Zucchini Spice Cupcakes



Ok so I have to admit, I was not super keen on the idea of zucchini cupcakes. I am not first in line when someone breaks out the zucchini bread nor do I like how sneakily familiar it looks to my old standby favorite, banana bread. Grated veggies don't have much room in my sweet palate. Esp in cupcake form, I tend to think that veggie cupcakes are almost like muffins but with frosting as an extra perk.



However, when I looked at the recipe, I saw that the 'spice' part was actually kind of like a pumpkin cupcake, which is one of my favorite things. Hey I never said I was consistent. So I thought I could play up the spice and lessen the zucchini, just in case.



I liked that Martha's recipe didn't have some amazingly ridiculous amt of sugar in it, veggie cupcake recipes tend to do this so that you don't know you are eating anything resembling an originally healthy vegetable, and it makes it more palatable for sweet tooths like myself. I didn't like that this recipe had no milk or liquid in it. What kind of cupcake doesn't have a liquid? The zucchini did add moisture but I added about 1/3c of milk and the result was a perfectly moist muffin. Not too dense.

I ommitted the nuts because our built-in pantry is open to the rest of the house and the moths just love my nuts. Even the sealed, as in haven't even been opened bags. So I had to toss them all just about a week ago and have not restocked. But when I do they are going in a diff area of the kitchen, something with doors. I hate moths.


Am I a muffin?????

In leiu of the nuts I added choco chips to some of them, just to see what kind of flavor that added. I also halfded (between half and a third) the recipe and got 8 huge cupcakes. Since I am traveling tomorrow, I took them to work today and let the masses over-consume. The feedback was that the cupcakes were really good, extremely moist and a good texture. Because I went nuts on the spice, people liked that you couldn't taste the zucchini and it was more like a spice cake. That works for me!


Or a luscious cupcake???? Identity crisis.

Thanks to my sweet baking buddy for some fresh Anderson Valley zucchini hand-delivered to the house so that I could bake these babies. XOXO LUVYA. And check out the other Martha Stewart Cupcake Club blog bakers at the new site. And if you don't have the book, buy it at Amazon. Enjoy!

39 comments:

betty geek said...

The moths love your nuts? That doesn't sound too good. ;)

And look at those bad boys. They DO look like muffins. I am telling you, this is a MUFFIN recipe in disguise.

Thank goodness you added the milk; I didn't and mine ended up as breakfast food.

I love your frosting! It's so white and fluffy!

Thanks for baking along with us this month, sweetie pie. Looking forward to the Banana-Pecan! What an excellent choice, doncha think?!

xoxo

Kayte said...

Let's see now...I think that you are going to be a very popular person suggesting subbing the chocolate chips for nuts! These look lovely and I like the way you iced them so nicely. Great job.

Soy*Baby said...

Chocolate chips sound like the perfect accompaniment. Your pictures are great. Love the frosting clouds. So pretty.

Megan said...

I agree that these weren't super sweet - which is probably why I really liked them.

Oh, make no mistake, I love sweet things, but these were perfect just the way they were.

Hindy said...

If it has chocolate chips, it's a cupcake. That's my rule. Yours look lovely!

June said...

Right, it's been said already but oh well: choco chips?! brilliant, what a brain wave! I agree, these were much more muffin-like than my definition of cupcakes really allows, but as long as they're moist and cream cheese frosted (vital!) they work for me..

Elizabeth D. said...

Oh my goodness, your frosting looks amazing!!! And I love your addition of chocolate chips, I totally should have done that!

Julie said...

Love the chocolate chips!! I want to try adding those next time.

Too bad about the moths!

Just Anything said...

I was wondering why this recipe had no liquid. heehee I will have to add some milk the next time I use this recipe!

The Food Librarian said...

Love that you added chocolate chips! Awesome addition. (I keep my nuts in the fridge and that seems to keep out the bugs). Love your frosting...looks all fluffy and yummy.

Delicious Dishings said...

I added chocolate too! I loved it combined with the spices. I really like the way you frosted yours!

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for baking with me this month! Your cupcakes are beautiful, especially that fluffy frosting! Great substitution to add chocolate chips instead of nuts - next time I'll try that.

Sorry to hear about the moths in your nuts. I always keep mine refrigerated and that seems to do the trick!

Mary Ann said...

I think they look delicious and I thought they were tasty, so call them a cupcake or call them a muffin, all I know is that they were good!

Judy said...

i was super skeptical of the zucchinis too, at first! but these turned out great!

Nina said...

Chocolate chips seem to do the trick!

Unknown said...

Gorgeous cupcakes - love how they're wearing a frosting turban. I thought these were the most un-zucchini-ish zucchini muffins/cupcakes I'd ever tried. Anderson Valley in CA? I used to get lots of great zucchini from there too, from my mom's ranch...sadly I live in CT now...

Katiecakes said...

Chocolate chips are a wonderful idea!

I've never had zucchini cake before, it's always seemed like an American thing. I'm really glad I tried it at last!

Katie xox

TeaLady said...

Those look so light and fluffy. Beautiful with the frosting.

These were good weren't they.

Suzanne Lowell said...

What kind of tip do you use to get your frosting like that? They look lovely!

Anonymous said...

Looking great, who doesn't like chocolate? Keeping all nuts and spices in the frizes saves trips to the store and dinaro.
America

Ivy said...

Your frosting is soooo high, it looks great!!!

Gigi said...

...mmmm the cupcakes look divine! especially the icing!

Samantha Kate said...

Cupcakes always make treats look so delish!

Mr. RT said...

I get hungry every time I slide by your blog! YUM!

-Mr RT

Jenniffer said...

Zucchini cupcakes? Wow, now that's thinking outside the box! They look yummy, as do all of your cupcakes! Keep up the great work!

-Jenniffer
http://cupadeecakes.blogspot.com

Mary Bergfeld said...

These really do look marvelous and I can only imagine how moist these cupcakes must be. This is my first visit to your blog. I had intended only to say hello but was lured by your earlier posts into staying far longer than I had intended. I love your recipes and the quiet tone of your blog. I hope to be back often. Have a wonderful day. Blessings...Mary

Laura said...

I think chocolate chips should be a substitute for just about anything.

And might I ask what is that cloud of fabulousness on TOP of that muffin...I mean cupcake...

Arno said...

Nice blog. And tasty photos.

abby jenkins said...

I was with you all the way on the zucchini cupcake until you dolloped that frosting on it, WHAT kind of goodness is that! Looks amazing.

Fickle Cattle said...

That looks awesome. :-) yum!

http://ficklecattle.blogspot.com/

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